Alfred b



(No Model.)

A. B. WILLGOX.

DOLL SUPPORT.

No. 479,481. Patented July 26, 1 892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED B. WILLOOX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN OR OF TWO-THIRDS TO MARY L. BUTLER AND S. ELLA GEER, OF SAME PLACE.

DOLL-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,481, dated July 26, 1892. Application filed February 29, 1892. Serial No. 423,309. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED B. WILLCOX, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Chicago, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Doll-Supports, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements which have been made with special reference to their use in doll-supports, but which may be found useful in a great many other devices of a similar nature. v

These improvements are illustrated in the drawings by means of two figures, both perspectives, showing a doll-support embodying my improvements in two positions.

The particular class of doll-supports to which the invention is best applied is that in which the doll is grasped about the waist by a spring-clasp supported by a suitable post or standard having an enlarged base to give it the necessary stability. As dolls vary greatly in sizes, these supports have been made extensible to adapt a single one to quite a range of sizes. A difficulty has arisen, however, because of the fact that the dolls vary in size laterally as well as longitudinally, so that a clasp which will fit tightly about the waist of one of the shorter dolls is not adapted to the greater proportions of the taller ones. It is to the overcoming of this difficulty that my invention is directed, and the devicesby meansof which I accomplish this are illustrated in the drawings presented. Applying referenceletters to the latter, A is a flat base-plate, preferably circular, having a post B rising from the edge thereof and terminating in a slotted head or eye I). A piece of wire 0 is bent to form a double portion 0, adapted to slide readily through the eye, and two curved arms 0, adapted to encircle the waist of a doll. As these arms are pressed downward the eye or head 1) slides up the double portion of the wire, and

as it approaches the arms holds them tightly together an d contracts the broken circle which they form. When, however, the arms are drawn upward, the bent portion of the wire above the head or eye can expand by the separation of the wires, allowing the arms to spread apart to receive a greaterbulk- This makes the support self-accommodating within the limits for which it is adapted and renders it equally satisfactory for all sizes within such limits.

The use of a single post or standard rising from the margin of the base-plate avoids interfering to any considerable extent with the clothing of the doll and enables the doll to be so arranged that the entire support will be concealed from view.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with a suitable base and a standard thereon, provided with a fixed guide, of a pair of vertically-movable spring arms extending upward through said guide and adapted to be sprung away from each other above the same, whereby the upward movement of said arms to extend them vertically makes them capable of a wider separation laterally, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a base and standard supported thereby, provided with a suitable guide, of a spring-clasp composed of-a piece of metal bent upon itself to form a double portion adapted to slide up and down in said guide, and two oppositely-arranged arms extending from the tops of the respective members of said double portion, substantially as described.

ALFRED B. \VILLCOX.

WVitnesses:

MARY LOUISA BUTLER, H. BITNER. 

